Home is where the wifi connects automatically

They say that "home is where the wifi connects automatically".

Well, today I am having trouble getting my wifi to connect at home at all. I had to turn the router off and on again, restart the laptop and refresh the list of possible networks to connect to. Finally, it connected. On my phone, I'm having to use 3G, though, because it won't co-operate.

Interestingly, when I go to Pizza Hut, my phone automatically connects to the wifi in Patisserie Valerie downstairs. Does that mean my home is really the food court?

The next day (part 8)

When Doctor Phoebus had come back into the room, boiled the kettle and made coffee, he and Oscar sat down at the desk.

“So, Lady Amelia tells me you’ll be starting training tomorrow,” Doctor Phoebus said as he set down his mug on the desk and leant back in his chair.

Oscar, beside him, nodded. “Yes, that’s what she told me, too. So what will the training involve?”

“Well, here, we follow the standard Four School training programme: Theory, Culture, Physical Training and School Specialism. You’ll have no trouble with the culture part, of course.”

“I won’t?” Oscar replied impulsively. “I mean, no, I won’t,” he corrected himself, hoping Doctor Phoebus just meant normal, British culture. He could do normal, British culture: drinking tea (although he had had a lot of coffee so far), being reserved and afraid to speak up when he didn’t understand what was going on (and hoping he could keep this up and subtly work out where he actually was), rooting for the underdog (although that seemed to be himself at the moment).

He chuckled along with Doctor Phoebus, then asked, “Can you tell me more about what you cover in the training programme?” And he added, “Here?” to make it sound as though he wasn’t a complete novice but merely enquiring about the methods used as this particular establishment.

“Well, Theory mainly covers the history of Friarr. We won’t make you sit through all of that. You’ll need to go to the classes on the theory of the Power, though, but you’ll see on your timetable which ones those are. Physical Training will make you ready for going out on missions and using the Secret Art of the Breadbin. You’ll need to go to all those sessions. I mean that,” he said seriously. “You’ll regret it if you don’t. And School Specialism is where I come in.” Oscar was pleased to hear the cheerier tone back in his voice. “I’m the Yellow School trainer, so I’ll train you in how to use the Power of Friarr as a member of the Yellow School.”

“Right. And what about the culture?”

“Oh, you’ll just soak up the culture while you’re here. Don’t worry,” he said conspiratorially, “You can pretty much just carry on as normal.”

“I see,” Oscar replied, doing his best to keep from panicking about this new training programme he had suddenly been signed up to. He hadn’t been expecting to be sent back to school. “And how long does the training programme last?”

“Until you’re ready.”

“Until I’m ready for what?”

“To go out into the field. I assume that’s what your aim is.”

“Sure.” That was close enough. His aim was to get out of here and go home.

“Great. Now, have you been issued your Manor Buddy yet?”

“I don’t think so. I mean, I came here with Delta. Does she count?”

“No, not that kind of buddy. Not to worry, I’ll print you off a timetable for now.” Doctor Phoebus pulled the computer keyboard towards him, typed in a password and searched through some files until he found what he was looking for. He clicked on print and reached under the desk to retrieve Oscar’s new timetable.

The colour-coded grid reminded Oscar very much of his school timetable, of the joy he’d had at colouring it in on the first day of each school year, of colouring his favourite lessons yellow and his least favourites in blue. He was pleased to see that there was no blue on this timetable: Theory sessions were coloured pink, Yellow School Specialism was – of course – yellow and Physical Training was orange.

“The grey blocks for Saturday and Sunday morning mean you can have a lie-in,” Doctor Phoebus explained. “It’s quite a full timetable so you’ll want to make the most of those mornings off to catch up on your sleep. Although, like I said, you might not need to go to all of the classes. And Culture in Sunday afternoon isn’t exactly a class and the activities are all optional. I’m going to the noodle tasting this Sunday and the first round of Wild Goose Chase is being shown on the big screen in the hall next weekend.”

“Right,” Oscar replied. “It’s just that this looks a lot like a school timetable and I wasn’t really expecting that. I was told I’d be trained to defend myself because I can’t go home yet, but this is… a lot to take in.”

“Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it looks,” Doctor Phoebus tried to console him. “It’s not like you’re at the Glass Plains – now that is a heavy timetable! But, of course, they really fast-track you through if you’re based there.”

Oscar sighed and wished someone would explain things to him properly. He considered asking Doctor Phoebus how he’d explain this place and Friarr to a complete outsider but didn’t want to sound too weird.

“Anyway, enough of this official stuff. Tell me what you’ve been working on out there in the real world.” Doctor Phoebus said kindly.

“I work for a software company,” Oscar said. “In sales at the moment. I basically meet with clients to tell them about the packages we offer, in the UK and abroad.”

“Have you ever been to Canada on your travels?” Doctor Phoebus interrupted him.

“No,” Oscar said, remembering how Delta had asked him the same thing.

“Oh, you should definitely go some time. I’ll next be going in the spring. Only to visit the Glass Plains this time but I’m trying to get time off to go in the summer and do the tourist thing. Growing up there I never got to do that, of course. And working here, I don’t get to that in the UK either. Worst of both worlds somehow.”

“So you grew up in Canada?” Oscar asked.

“Yes, started training at the Glass Plains right from the age of four and youngest to graduate when I was 15.”

“Congratulations,” seemed to Oscar to be the right thing to say.

“Thanks.” Doctor Phoebus sighed and stared into space for a moment. “Anyway,” he said, sitting up straight again. “Now you have your timetable. Let’s see what you’ll be doing tomorrow.”

They looked at the timetable. Wednesday morning was coloured in bright orange: Physical Training Outdoors (with permission).

“Have you got permission for outdoor training?” Doctor Phoebus asked.

“I didn’t even know there would be outdoor training. Do I need permission?”

“If you don’t know, you probably don’t have it. Lady Amelia will have to approve it. I’ll call her now.”

While Doctor Phoebus was on the phone, Oscar looked more closely at his timetable. Wednesday mornings were outdoor training followed by History in the afternoon. Yellow School specialist training was on Tuesdays and Thursdays; there were theory classes all day on Mondays and Fridays were dedicated to indoor physical training. Saturday afternoons were for outdoor physical training again, although, from what he could hear of the phone conversation, this was sounding unlikely.

To Oscar’s relief, Doctor Phoebus announced that Lady Amelia had not approved his outdoor training. He hadn’t been looking forward to taking part in sporting activities outside during winter.

“I won’t reprint your timetable now,” Doctor Phoebus said. “But it’ll be correct when you get your Manor Buddy. I’ll arrange for it to be sent up to your room. Which room are you in?”

“Uh, last night I slept on Delta Foxtrot’s sofa. I doubt I’ll be staying there.”

“Oh, right, haha, no, you won’t be staying there. A room will have been sorted out for you in the Yellow School wing. We’ll go and find it for you before dinner.”

“Good,” Oscar said. “And what is the Manor Buddy?”

“Oh, you haven’t had one before?” Doctor Phoebus asked. Oscar stared at him blankly. “It’s like a smartphone, only on local frequency so it’ll only work in and around the Manor. Everyone has one. It has your timetable on it and you can use it to communicate with anyone in the building: call, text, you name it. You use it to check in to your classes and you can share your location so people can join you in the social areas. You’ve really never had one of these before?” Doctor Phoebus asked again.

Oscar pulled his Android smartphone out of his pocket. “This is what I have at the moment,” he said.

Doctor Phoebus laughed. “Oh boy! You’re going to have a great time when you get your Manor Buddy! It’s totally customisable and yours to keep. Oh, and I think there’s even a map of the building and grounds so you won’t get lost. Speaking of which, why don’t we go and find your room now?”

The next day (part 7)

Oscar paid little attention to the journey down to see Doctor Phoebus. He was too preoccupied with worrying about his parents. He replayed the exchange with Lady Amelia over and over in his head as the lift descended. She looked so serious, more and more so the more he imagined her saying the words “very tragic”. He was relieved when the lift bounced to a stop and the doors opened, presenting him with something new to look at to take his mind off things.

The corridor was quite different to those on the floors he had already visited. Here the bare bricks were painted a pale yellow, giving the underground level a cheery feel without being too in-your-face. At the end of the corridor, Daphne knocked on a door and opened it to reveal a small office-cum-laboratory. Oscar followed her over the threshold.

“Doctor Phoebus?” she called. There was no reply. “Doctor Phoebus!” she said a little louder. Was it Oscar’s imagination or did she sound a little exasperated? It was only the second time she’d called his name: she couldn’t start getting exasperated already.

This time, however, a man appeared from behind the desk. He stood up so suddenly that he made Oscar jump. Once he’d recovered himself, Oscar took in the man as he put down what he’d been holding and crossed the room to greet Daphne. Oscar looked at what he’d put on the desk: a short cable and a screwdriver. Oscar watched as the lightly-tanned, long-haired Doctor Phoebus gave Daphne a friendly hug, exchanged a few pleasantries with her then extended a hand to Oscar.

“And you must be Oscar,” Doctor Phoebus said with a smile. Oscar was surprised to hear an American twang in his accent as everything and everyone had been very English so far.

“Yes, Oscar Thornton,” Oscar said as he allowed his hand to be shaken.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you at last,” Doctor Phoebus said amicably. “Shall we get to work?”

Oscar followed Doctor Phoebus uncertainly over to the desk. Daphne hovered behind them, then said “I’ll be off then. See you later,” and walked out the door before either of the men had a chance to respond. Oscar blinked at the closed door for a couple of seconds, surprised at how rude she had been, then Doctor Phoebus interrupted his thoughts.

“Let me just finish putting this computer together, then I’ll be a much better host.” Doctor Phoebus muttered something about not having been given much warning of Oscar’s arrival as he got down on his hands and knees behind the desk, reached up for the screwdriver and took his computer apart ready to put in the cable he’d also set on the desk. Oscar didn’t know much about the insides of computers so he wasn’t sure what he was doing. He stood uncertainly next to the desk, watching because he thought he should, but not really paying attention. Again, he wasn’t sure where he was or why, and Doctor Phoebus seemed to know more about what was going on that he did.

The office was very tidy despite the rough-and-ready impression the bare bricks and flagged-stoned floor gave. Books were neatly stacked in colour-coordinated bookcases; two cups, a cafetière and a kettle had been set neatly in a row on top of a cabinet Oscar assumed held coffee, sugar and biscuits; the desk looked worked-at but not messy, with papers spread out next the computer monitor, keyboard and mouse. Most out of place was the work bench, which held some kind of science experiment. The apparatus had been set up to create a clear path-way along the middle of the desk, length-ways; with a mirror at one end, about the size of a computer screen, and an empty photo frame at the other. Along the side were some technical instruments and some everyday objects that would otherwise be out of place in this kind of office: a football, an iron and small Christmas tree, for example. The workbench wasn’t much larger than the average desk or dining table so Oscar didn’t think it could be a very serious experiment.

“Just something I’ve been working on in my spare time,” Doctor Phoebus confirmed when he had stood up again and found Oscar staring curiously at the experiment. “I thought I’d investigate how different objects are affected by the power of Friarr.” When he said ‘Friarr’, he did a very curious movement: he put his arms at his sides, elbows bent so that he hands were at shoulder height, stuck he hands out flat to the sides, palms down (as Delta had done on the bus the day before) and stuck one leg briefly out to the side in a small kick (like when someone’s foot pops when they are kissed in a film). He did this so matter-of-factly and as though it were part of the word itself that Oscar was quite taken aback. Doctor Phoebus didn’t seem to notice, though, and went to fill the kettle from a room leading off the office.

Read in context (Romans 2)

When I woke up this morning, 'Marriage Equality' was trending on Twitter because it is currently being debated in America. There were many links to pictures of people holding up various signs, expressing opinions on both sides of the debate. I saw things like 'Love is love' and 'Jesus had two dads', and signs like 'I wouldn't be here without my Mum AND Dad' and 'God made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve'. There were, of course, portions of scripture quoted on many signs.

One which I decided to look up was Romans 1:26–27

Because people did those things, God left them and let them do the shameful things they wanted to do. Women stopped having natural sex and started having sex with other women. In the same way, men stopped having natural sex and began wanting each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and in their bodies they received the punishment for those wrongs.

This looks like it's pretty clear about God bringing judgement on those who have homosexual relationships. But I wanted to see it in context because I've seen verses taken out of context before (don't get me started on 'The poor will always be among you'!) and didn't want to be falsely judging people.

So I read the whole of Romans 1. As I got to the list in verse 28, I started to worry about how verses 28–32 could be used as a weapon against people. I kept reading.

All those who use any verses from Romans 1 as a reason for judging people, need to read Romans 2. The first sentence is this:

If you think you can judge others, you are wrong.

It doesn't get much clearer than that, but Paul goes on to explain how people can't judge each other because we are all guilty of sin, and that only God can judge all of us because he is without sin.

If you ever catch me quoting Romans 1 against someone, hit me over the head with a Bible, open it to Romans 2 and make me read the whole chapter aloud!

More here: Romans 2:1 – Those Who Judge Have No Excuse

The next day (part 6)

Oscar began by telling Lady Amelia how he had met Delta at the airport when their flight was rerouted. He told her that they had lunch together in Munich Airport and that they had come home on Delta’s Uncle Frog’s plane. He wasn’t sure that he should tell her about Delta using her martial art on the policemen at the border, or the conversations they’d had about Friarr, or about being rescued from the interrogation room via the air duct.

“You tell it very well,” Lady Amelia complimented him when he paused for breath. “Well, very succinctly, at least.” He suspected she knew those things he had neglected to mention, that Delta had already told her.

“What happened after you landed? When you arrived home?” Lady Amelia asked.

“We got in a taxi which took us to my house. But we didn’t stop there.”

“Why not?”

“Because… it was surrounded by police.” Oscar struggled to say it aloud because he could still hardly believe it was true.

“So Delta brought you here?” Lady Amelia prompted him.

“Yes, she told the driver to keep going and not stop. It was like being in a film. Although at the time it didn’t feel very glamorous. I was so shaken from parachuting out of a rickety biplane and seeing my house surrounded. It was very surreal.” As he said this, he looked up to see Lady Amelia’s reaction. Had he already said they had parachuted down? Maybe he shouldn’t have called Uncle Frog’s plane rickety. Lady Amelia didn’t seem concerned though. She simply smiled amusedly and motioned for him to go on.

“The next thing I knew, the taxi had stopped and Delta helped me out of the car. She led me up a hill and across a cobbled square, and up a lift to her room, where I fell asleep on the sofa.”

“I see. Have you told anyone that you’re here? Have you taken any phone calls?” Lady Amelia asked.

“I phoned a colleague this morning to excuse myself for being late for work,” Oscar recalled. “But he told me the office had burnt down during the night, that there was just a pile of rubble where it used to be.” After a pause, Oscar continued. “So I have nowhere to go. I can’t go home because my house is surrounded. I can’t go to work because it’s not there any more. I can’t go to my parents because…”

“Yes, that was very tragic,” Lady Amelia said sensitively.

“Tragic? Has something happened to them on holiday? Are they going to be alright?” Oscar could feel himself panicking. He felt sick. It was one thing to lose his house and his office, but if the Cotwg were also hurting people he knew…

“Nothing has happened to your parents,” Lady Amelia said softly. “I didn’t mean to alarm you.” Oscar stared at her, taking deep breaths to calm himself. “You are right that you can’t return home at the moment. It’s not safe for you to go out at all because the Cotwg are clearly targeting you. We will train you to defend yourself against them. Your classes will start tomorrow morning but I’d like you to meet your trainer this afternoon.”

“Um, OK, thanks,” was what Oscar heard himself say.

Lady Amelia turned in her chair and called someone over. “Daphne, could you take Mr Thornton to meet Doctor Phoebus?”

Patricia St John

For World Book Day, I decided to write about one of my favourite authors. As a child, I loved reading Patricia St John's books. From the day I was introduced to Rainbow Garden, I enjoyed everything I read by her. What was wonderful was the way there was always a lesson woven into the story, in a very non-threatening, non-teachery way. I learnt something valuable from each book at the same time as enjoying a great story.

Here are some of the highlights.

The Mystery of Pheasant Cottage

This was my favourite book for a long time, because of the twist in the story which I didn't see coming, and still amazes me today. As I flick through it now to find my favourite bits, it's taking all my self control not to just read it all the way through again. When reading this book, I learnt some Spanish, and I learnt about the simplicity of faith: that Jesus is my friend and that he is in my heart.

Rainbow Garden

This was the first Patricia St John book I read. I lost count of the number of times I re-read it. It was a wonderful story about a girl growing up in a very different environment to me: she lived with her mother, then moved to the countryside to live with friends while her mother was away working. Whilst living with this family, she learns to make friends and not be selfish. She is introduced to the specialness of Sunday (when they had special toys they didn't play with on other days) and joins her new friend in her Bible reading and prayer times. She, of course, discovers a garden at the end of rainbow one day, which becomes a special place for her. This was a really enjoyable read, a story which opened my mind to different ways of life, to realising that not everyone grows up in the same kind of family as me.

Treasures of the Snow

I read this book while I was beginning to fall in love with learning French: as it is set in the Alps, it includes some French songs. I was also impressed by how much the author knew about life in the Swiss Alps. It is a lovely story of friendship and forgiveness. Along with the main character, Annette, I learnt this from her grandmother about letting God's light into our lives:

"When you come down in the morning and find this room dark with the shutters closed, do you say to yourself, 'I must chase away the darkness and the shadows first, and then I will open the shutters and let in the sun'? Do you waste time trying to get rid of the dark?" 

"Of course not!" said Annette. 

"How do you get rid of the dark?" 

"Well, I pull back the shutters, of course, and then the light comes in!" 

"But what happens to the dark?" 

"I don't know; it just goes when the light comes in!" 

"That is just what happens when you ask the Lord Jesus to come in," said Grandmother. "He is love, and when he comes in, hatred and selfishness and unkindness will give way to it, just as the darkness gives way when you let in the sunshine. But to try to chase it out alone would be like trying to chase the shadows out of a dark room. It would be a waste of time."

It's something I keep reminding myself of all these years later.

Where the River Begins

I remember finding out about this book, going to buy it one day after school and reading the whole thing in about three days, which was quite unlike me at the time. This is a simple little story, shorter and less complicated than the others I'd read before. It's about a boy who runs away from home and is helped by a family he meets by the river. It taught me about helping those in need, as the boy and his new friends help each other. I was also starting to think about writing stories at this time, so I learnt from this book that it's OK to write a short, simple story, and that it doesn't always have to be an epic novel with many twists and turns. I imagine the author thinking up this story and writing the whole thing quite quickly, rather than spending months or years over it.

Twice Freed

This a very different to her other books as it is set in biblical times. Inspired by the story of the slave boy Onesimus, mentioned in the short New Testament book of Philemon, this book showed me that Bible stories can be exciting if told in the right way. I still like the idea of taking Bible stories and rewriting them in a form which is more accessible, i.e. an interesting-to-read novel. (This has also been done by Francine Rivers in Redeeming Love, the story of the prophet Hosea, which I read last year, absolutely loved and thoroughly recommend.) Because of the author's careful research and preparation, I learnt a lot about Roman and Greek life through this book, which helped me understand some of the New Testament stories better. Twice Freed shows us how Jesus brings two kinds of freedom: Onesimus is physically freed from slavery, but he is also freed spiritually when Paul introduces him to Jesus. True freedom isn't just about not being a slave and about having freedom of choice. It's also about being free from guilt or a heavy conscience. It's about knowing in your heart that you are free from spiritual evil because of Jesus.

I Needed a Neighbour, Nothing Else Matters and The Victor

These three books were written for teenagers rather than children, and were set in places which were harder to identify with, so I don't remember them as well as the others. What I remember liking about The Victor, though, is that again it presented Bible stories from a different point of view. The main character is the boy who offers his lunch at the feeding of the 5000. He keeps hearing about this miracle-working prophet, and eventually his sister is healed by him when he comes to visit their village.

I discovered when I read the introduction to Twice Freed that Patricia St John passed away in 1993. That means I started to read and enjoy her books a few years after she died. I looked in the front of my copy of Rainbow Garden and saw that it was first published when my mum was a teenager, so she would only have been a couple of years older than me when she first read it. Patricia St John has left behind her a legacy of timeless classics which I hope will inspire the next generation of girls to read and write as much as it inspired me.

My favourite Psalm

Psalm 139

New International Version (NIV)

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

¹ You have searched me, Lord,

    and you know me.

² You know when I sit and when I rise;

    you perceive my thoughts from afar.

³ You discern my going out and my lying down;

    you are familiar with all my ways.

⁴ Before a word is on my tongue

    you, Lord, know it completely.

⁵ You hem me in behind and before,

    and you lay your hand upon me.

⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

    too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
    Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.