Back In Swansea . . . and Reading . . .

It was good to be able to return to familiar surroundings at Zac's Place after the recent foreign sojourn. The three week period was the longest I have been away from Zac's since it began over eleven years ago and I am so impressed with everyone there with the way it all ran - especially on the Tuesday night tribal gatherings. Contribution from a wide variety of our regulars, speaking openly and honestly about their life and faith, took relationships to another level and encouraged all involved. It's also a measure of how much the group has matured and sharing responsibilities is now a hallmark.

Today has seen a different side of activity at Zac's Place. In partnership with our friends at the Big Issue Cymru, The Cyrenians, Swansea Drugs Project and The Wallich (who manage the breakfasts for rough sleepers at our place), Zac's was used as a venue for a Health Check Up for many of our collective friends. Over fifty people came throughout the day for; flu and swine flu jabs, blood pressure checks, blood sugar level checks and benefit from the services of other health specialists such as dentists and chiropedists. What made this occasion different to other years was the involvement throughout the day of medical students from the Swansea Medical School Graduate Entry Programme who also found the experience very beneficial - and i can testify that being a guinea pig at the sharp end wasn't so bad after all!

I hit the road again this weekend returning to take part in the 24th Annual Reading Toy Run, on Sunday, which I was involved in founding with my closest of mates back home. It's an event that can attract over 2000 participants and one where I try to bring relavent Christmas message. I'll also be speaking at Sindlesham Baptist Church (near Wokingham) prior to the run. Monday sees a change of gear back in Swansea where I'll be contributing at a Remembrance Event for those lost through drug addiction; raw emotions, fragile souls and tough questions will all mark a special time, (3-5pm on Mon 7 Dec, St. Matthews Centre, High St. Swansea)

A mix of people and variety of circumstances ensure that the journey continues in it's usual colourful chaos and to a greater or lesser degree, often involves tending 'wounds' of one sort or another.