Just sit back and relax! You’re about to embark on a journey into my life and world.
Who am I?
26, British born, married, and, at the time of writing, recently returned to Northern Ireland after being a full-time preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in Australia for over two years.
Outside of that, I love to travel, occasionally enjoy taking photos, like to build websites, and I’m keen on commentating on various things here on my personal blog. Primarily Christian.
I’m a regular guy, really. I make mistakes, I do stupid things, and I probably disappoint people. Worse than that, I fail God.
Site details & history
This site was created at the end of 2006, initially as a means to keep family and friends informed on how my wife and I were getting on in Australia. It’s not filling a niche in any particular topic and does not reflect the views of anyone else, or any body or group of people; it’s just me, and my thoughts.
It began on the domain, ArmensBlog.com, but after a while I got fed up with the domain. People who had never heard of a ‘blog’ would say, “Armen’s what?“, which I disliked. So, in October ‘07, I bought ArmenThomassian.com, and transferred everything over. Well, almost everything. All the images placed in the posts of the previous 10 months, were lost! I’m still searching for a backup I know I made, but, I’ve yet to find it.
This is a life-long ‘project’, I suspect. At least, currently, I cannot foresee a time when I’ll give up this site entirely. Posting frequency may wax and wane in accordance with life commitments, but I intend to write when I can.
I continually marvel at how many people actually read what I write. I heartily encourage you to join in, and subscribe.
The technicalities
The blog…
This blog runs on the simple, yet powerful, WordPress platform. It’s currently glittered with what I’ve called, ‘Spring Clean’. A design created in June, ‘08 by myself.
The blog is hosted by midPhase, and stats are tracked by reinvigorate and Google Analytics.
The hardware…
A am a Macbook Pro user (and no, I’m not an Apple-loving fanboy; far from it), and that’s what I use to maintain this site. Most of the photographs are taken using a Canon 350d, with a 17-70mm Sigma lens, although I’m beginning to dislike the bulk of carrying a dSLR and a camcorder (a Sony HC7) whenever I travel. (Note - images and videos are now primarily from my Canon G9).
The software…
Graphics are created in Photoshop CS3, and currently, no particular editor is used for the code. Video is now edited in Final Cut Pro now that I have a grasp on how to use it properly. Prior to the Mac, I was using Sony Vegas, which I highly recommend if you’re a Windows user.
The bio
Born the year an alien botanist was stranded on earth, I was the child of two parents, and became the future brother of my sister. Life for me began in the land of kilt’s, tartan, and haggis, but only for a few years. I don’t remember much of those days, except that a local kid stole my football (stealing from a three year old is just plain wrong).
The Early Years
After crossing a few miles of water, the ‘folks’ set up home not far from the Giant’s Causeway, where I lived most of my life. Childhood had its memorable, and forgettable moments, much like any. I went through natural phases of interests and various experiences:
- Pushing around Matchbox cars while making car engine noises
- Playing football, supporting Manchester United, and buying Glory! Glory!
- Collecting such things as 1991 Pro Set football trading cards, and Pogs, of which I have all of Series 2, Limited Edition, and the World Tour (which I collected in a record breaking two school days)
- Spending summer evenings playing Piggy in the Middle, Curby, ‘Itchy Bomb’ wars, wrestling competitions, climbing trees, lighting fires, and footie.
- Spending the long winter evenings playing Knick Knock, jumping hedges, setting off bangers, and of course, playing footie.
- Reading many Roald Dahl novels, several times, and most of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five series.
- Video game addiction, beginning in 1989 with the Game Boy (eventually completing Super Mario Land in 19 minutes and 40 seconds), then the SNES, Playstation, and then PC gaming.
- Various accidents, such as getting hit by a car (at traffic lights - always wait for the green man), smashing my face off a concrete sewer pipe, standing on a three inch rusty nail, falling 25 feet from a tree, repeated confrontations with wasps, and breaking my wrist trying to do a bicycle kick!
- Persuading many of my classmates, that peanut butter and jam sandwiches rule!
Adolescence
This period obviously brought about its own set of adventures and sagas. As much as I was like every other kid in the neighbourhood, I also had my differences:
- I had to learn how to deal with racist remarks; walking away, rather than fighting.
- I learned to be an independent thinker, rarely being led by peer pressure; resulting in little interest in smoking, alcohol, or drugs.
- Most of my TV time was spent watching National Geographic and Discovery channels. I hated soap operas. My father told me they were poison for the mind, and I’ve never changed from that view.
Academics
Although I was level headed and sensible, I always lacked academic discipline. As a rule, I never studied for an exam, and even though I had slightly above average abilities, the lack of study eventually took its toll. I found it hard to work at something which was outside my comfort zone. For example:
I enjoyed Art, and was fairly capable. But, I just wanted to work with a 2b pencil, charcoal, or pastels. I had no interest in watercolours, clay, or in researching other artists to compare their work with my own. I also despised the fact that, more emphasis was placed on quantity, rather then quality.
Although I was an under-achiever, particularly in the latter years of High School, I still managed to be assigned as Head Boy, which, I suppose is no mean feat.
After school, I tried out a few computer courses, Including a BTEC in I.T. and Business, and a Cisco Computer Networking course. However, I never completed any.
Employment
I’ve had a stack of jobs in my time. Beginning with washing cars, and putting the ads and magazines into the Sunday newspapers, to working in a snooker club, restaurant kitchens, building sites, a supermarket, an engineering firm, and even thought about joining the Armed Forces at one stage. A real hodge podge.
My conversion
In May 2002, some things changed. I was miraculously converted to Christ.
This is a bigger deal than you may realise. Prior to that time, I was never even convinced God existed. To think about submitting my life to Him, is just ludicrous!
As I mentioned, I was an avid watcher of the Discovery and National Geographic channels, which are both atheistic in perspective. In fact, to give you an idea of my thinking, at the time of my conversion, I was in the middle of reading ‘The Universe in a Nutshell’ by agnostic, Stephen Hawking.
My conversion came ‘out of the blue,’ and although I’ll not take the time to detail it here, the result was quite dramatic.
Famous cricketer, C.T. Studd once said, “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to make for Him.” I try to remind myself of that on a frequent basis, and live in the light of it, although I fail more often than not.
Recent developments
I got married in May ‘05 to Melanie, and a new chapter in our lives unfolded in January ‘07. We moved from Northern Ireland to South Australia, in order to serve God and minister to a few congregations.
Updated: 27 June, 09.
I’m now back in Northern Ireland, and preparing to begin four years of ministerial training.
The future is bright, and I’m excited as I consider what I may experience in the coming years. Some of it will be rough, without a doubt; but, it’s exciting nonetheless.
