MY BUCKET LIST

Lying in bed recently, I began to think of the immense privilege I have known to be able to experience so many different things in my life. People often refer to a 'Bucket List', but I have no 'Bucket List' as my life has been so packed with intense and extraordinary experiences, I feel truly blessed. I hope that there are many more things still to do, achieve and experience and am eager always to make the most of every day and be expectant for what tomorrow may bring, but I am also content with what has been, is and may be, and serene in knowing the destiny of my life is in the hands of Love's sweet grace.

The things I have done, been and experienced so far, no doubt not exhaustive, as I keep remembering and adding to it daily!:- 

Ice Cream Van Driver and Ice Cream Seller around Sheffield

Leader of Activity Camps and Activities for Children in Wales

Organiser and Leader of camps for socially deprived children in Sheffield

Organiser of Coach Trips for young people to Zoos and Theatres.

Youth Volunteer in socially deprived areas of Sheffield

Teacher in Sheffield

Hitchhiked and travelled overland from London to Calcutta

On my travels, slept in Swiss mountain forests, under hoardings on Rome station and Assisi station, under a tree on the Pakistan border, in a mud hut in India and in the hills of Thailand and in the open in the then Czechoslovakia.

Ridden a horse, a camel and an elephant.

In my campaigning, slept in a shanty hut on the streets in Bradford and Bexleyheath.

In solidarity with the poor, slept on the floor for 4 years.

A vegetarian for 9 years

Blood Donor, giving tens of pints of blood

Registered for Bone Marrow Donation on the Anthony Nolan Register

Registered for organ donation

Registered to donate my Body to Medical Research

Woman’s Refuge Volunteer in London with the International Voluntary Service

Non-Violent anti-war and anti-corruption Civil Disobedience and Protester

Landscaper Volunteer in the then Czechoslovakia with the Voluntary Services Overseas

Lorry Driver Volunteer in India with Operation Mobilisation

Relief Worker in India with Tear Fund and Tear Craft

Choir Master in India with the Chinese Church in Calcutta

Flood Relief Distributor in India with Operation Mobilisation

Co-worker Volunteer with Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta

Volunteer at the Halfway Rehabilitation Centre in Calcutta

Open Youth Club Leader in Rochester

Actor in Bradford and Derbyshire:         Macbeth in Macbeth

                                                                The voice of Jesus in Bradford City’s Outdoor Passion Play

                                                                Lorenzo in Merchant of Venice

                                                                In Journeys End

Singer in Choirs, Choral Societies and individually

Senior School Winner of the Singing Competition

Youth Coordinator for the World Conference on Religion and Peace, visiting Russia, Kenya, Pakistan, France, Italy, Australia and Switzerland.

Invited to meet Pope John Paul 11, at the Vatican, for my Peace Work

Poet of self-published collection:                     Poems of Loss, Mystery and Gain

Author of 5 adult books: Published:                 For God’s Sake Don’t Go to Church

                                                                          That Old Devil Called God Again

                                             Self-Published:     Be an Awesome Dad

                                                                           Hopes and Aspirations

                                                                           The Diary of a Prisoner of War

Author of 32 children’s books: The Tales of Henry the Lovable Hedgehog, beautifully illustrated by Catherine Daw

Founder and Manager of a successful charity shop in Durham, 'The Third World Shop' (the first such shop) housed both in the university and, over one Christmas, in the city centre, selling goods from the developing nations. The shop still trades, now called the 'Just World Shop'.

Stock Purchaser, Window dresser and Shop Designer

Teenage volunteer visitor for the elderly

Student volunteer visitor for those in Mental Health Hospitals

Producer of Musical Medley and Dance Performance for Nursing Homes and a Mental Health Hospital

Student volunteer working with Young People in Care at their Youth Club

Project Leader and Fund Raiser for the Installation of Solar Powered Water Pump Systems for Water Provision to two villages in the Gambia

Smuggler of Christian books and Resources to Christian Communities in the then Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, the then Czechoslovakia, Romania and for the Soviet Union.

Earthquake Relief Volunteer in Udine, Italy, with International Service Overseas

Priest of the Church of England

Bishop of the Open Episcopal Church

Saving 3 people’s lives. A child dying on Howrah Station. A woman dying in the Bengal floods. An elderly man who had fallen in a fire in Wales.

Inter Faith and International Peace Pilgrimage Arranger and Guide, visiting and offering prayers for peace at Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, France, Germany, the then Czechoslovakia, Ukraine, Moscow and Poland.

Director of the Week of Prayer for World Peace

Television, Radio, Press and Media Personality, featured in many programmes and articles

Archbishop of the Open Episcopal Church

Independent Minister

Minister for the wedding of Jade Goody and Jack Tweed, covered internationally

Co-founder and President of the Society for Independent Christian Ministry

Co-founder of the Open Episcopal Church

Plumber, fitting/installing radiators, draining and maintaining central heating systems, 6 toilets, bathroom sinks and kitchen sinks showers

Painter and Decorator, external and internal

Significant Funder of T.B. Hospital in Howrah, India.

Non-violent Civil Disobedience Campaigner for Child Protection

Electrician fitting new wiring and new circuit boards, connecting cookers and showers, installing new immersion heaters and hot water tanks.

Builder doing loft conversions, partition walls, door frames and doors, brick walls, ridge tile repairs, plastering, mortaring, guttering, metal and wood fence installing, double glazed window repairs, door and lock repairs.

Labourer digging a Sump Hole, 8’ deep and 10’ in diameter

Fruit Picker

Financial Adviser with the Sun Life of Canada

Motor Mechanic changing gear boxes and brakes, points, spark plugs, filters, points, lights, exhausts, brake fluid, engine oil.

The only Driving Instructor for my two sons, who passed, one the first time.

Drain Cleaner, unblocking Sewers and Drains

Swimming Pool Installer

Swimming Pool Pump and Boiler Installer

Water Quality Technician

Circuit board Repairer

Preacher

Furniture Restorer

Chair Repairer and Upholsterer

Samaritan in Sheffield and Durham, doing day and overnight shifts

Arrested for nailing my '95 Theses' on how to reform the church to becoming a true expression of Christ's Love, to the door of Canterbury Cathedral

Righteous ‘Criminal’ for Anti-War protest, writing a biblical quotation on the Houses of Parliament, protesting about the B52 bombing of young Iraqi recruits

Righteous ‘Criminal’ for Child Protection Campaigning for my continued blogging, despite a Restraining Order, that resulted in the successful prevention of a paedophile gaining responsibility over children

Prisoner of Conscience

Though innocent, arrested 7 times, handcuffed, spent three nights in police cells, transported in Serco prison van, made to shower and go to the toilet watched by police officers while in custody, and victim of police violence

Completed over 240 hours of ‘Community Service’ for my righteous campaigning

Delivery Driver

Counsellor

Relate Marriage Guidance Counsellor in the Medway

First to offer Baptisms at home or any venue, first as a priest to advertise my willingness to conduct Gay Weddings, first to offer marriage ceremonies in any location.

Pioneer of  imaginative services, with Weddings, Baptisms, Namings and Funerals taking place on mountain tops (Mount Snowdon), underwater, in circus rings, in planes, on speed boats, luxury yachts, palaces, the House of Commons, Stately Homes, beaches, orchards, lakesides, castles, Internet cafes, over the internet, clubs, zoos, discos, pubs, private homes, rivers and gardens, in Morocco, Spain, Crete, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Egypt, France, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Orkney, Minorca, Ibiza. 

Conducted the first gay wedding broadcast on This Morning on Prime Time TV, with Richard and Judy hosting, on Valentines Day, 2001

Taken Wedding, Naming and Funeral services for Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus,  Bhuddists, atheists and agnostics

Pioneered Post the Host, posting consecrated bread and wine across the world

Charity Shop Worker with Age Concern and Shelter

Pioneer of Independent Apostolic Ministry

Children’s Adventure Activities Arranger, Leader and Supervisor,  interviewed by police for the use of toy guns and arrested wrongly by police, and released without charge, for taking my children on the house roof, properly supervised and harnessed at all times.

Solicitor representing myself, defending myself in cases arising from my Non-Violent Protesting and Campaigning work and bringing a Crown Court private prosecution against a police officer for violence

Barrister representing myself, defending myself in cases arising from my Non-Violent Protesting and Campaigning work, and successful in defending myself, under high pressure, threatened with prison,  at an alleged breach of bail hearing, and successful at the High Court in my defamation case against Associated Newspapers International

Jury Service and Chair of the Jurors

Campaigner for Equal Marriage, invited to Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister and to a reception to meet the Deputy Prime Minister.

Accountant preparing budgets, accounts and tax returns

Gardener

Chef preparing quality cuisine

Architect drawing up plans for extensions and house conversions and submitting plans to the local authority, successfully, for approval

Property Developer

Property Management 

Tree Surgeon

Medical Aid Inventor    - Creating a leg separator during sleep, preventing leg adduction, after hip                                                   surgery

                                         Creating an arm movement inhibitor to protect damaged nerves during

                                         convalescence.

Nurse Carer providing 24/7 care to the elderly, infirm and bedbound, washing, dressing, feeding, bed changing, toileting, administering drugs and exercising.

Stoma Bag Carer, managing and changing the Stoma bag

Hired Cleaner

Private Tutor

Business Manager, establishing and running a successful, 100% satisfaction rated on eBay, profitable Furniture Restoring Company

Charity Trustee and Chair of Trustees

Independent Custody Visitor

Hospital Chaplain at St Bartholomew’s Hospital Rochester

Hospice Chaplain at the Molly Wisdom Hospice, Rochester

Founder of the first Hospital Inter faith Chapel at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Rochester

Christmas Lights Display Expert

Fund Raiser – having raised over £325,000

Celebrant

Dancer

Roadside Rescue stopping as an ‘On Call’ Bishop for roadside and other emergencies

Litter Picker

Divorce Mediator

Diabetic Nurse Injecting Insulin

Web Site builder and Manager

Carpet and Lino fitter

Hard floor fitter

Boiler Repairer

Washing Machine Repairer

Tumble Drier Repairer

Cane Seat Weaver

Film Editor

Photographer

Dog Groomer

Audio Storyteller

Lead Executor and Administrator of jointly executed Will without employing a solicitor

Shoe Repairer

Laying out of the Dead and preparing the Body for Viewing.

Barber

Clothes Repairer

Pest Controller

Foster Carer with SFP Fostering

Housing and supporting the Homeless and those in need

Tutoring for the 11 plus

House Clearance

Support and assistance for Drug and Alcohol Addicts

Reuniting Long Lost Families

Providing Shelter for Vulnerable Young People

Producer and Drama Director of a Musical, St Francis, performed at Bradford University

Chair of the Medway Inter Faith Group

Wigwam Builder

Public Speaker

Quarter of a million-pound Church Extension and Repair Project Manager and Fund Raiser

Breeder of Budgerigars and Rabbits; keeper of Rhode Island Red Hens, Stick Insects, a Dog, Snakes, Guinea pigs and Chipmunks. Feeder of a flock of 80 plus Wood Pigeons and Collared Doves, Magpies, Sparrows, Thrushes, Robins, Starlings, Tits, Wrens as well as Foxes, with a pond for frogs.

Community Bonfire and Firework Display Organiser

Marathon Walker and Marathon Runner for Charity

Editor of Community News Publication, ‘Neighbours’

Motorcyclist with a 250 cc Enfield

Senior School Team member for Fives, Squash, Water Polo and Rugby

Senior School Record Breaker in Athletics for the 1500 metres, Steeplechase and Cross Country

Pilgrim on 250-mile walk from Derbyshire to the South Coast

Potholer, Climber, Swimmer, Jet Skier, Water Skier, Snow Skier, Scuba Diver, Caver, Hill and Mountain Walker, Archer, Rifle Shooter, Clay Pigeon shooter, Canoeist, Paraglider, Snorkeller, Powerboater, Sailor, Runner, Cyclist, Potter, Serious Zip Wire and Roller Coaster Rider.

Qualified to drive and handle Powerboats, Level 2.

Visited Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Italy, Monaco, Egypt, The Canary Islands, Malta, Minorca, Majorca, Ibiza, Greece, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, India, America, Thailand, Australia, Morocco, Crete, Russia, Sardinia, the Isle of Man, The Channel Islands, the Isle of Wight, Orkney and Loutro.

Husband to a paradisaical Wife

Profoundly happily married

Father to exceptionally loving and wonderful children

ARCHBISHOP JONATHAN BLAKE - MY LIFE - PART ONE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFpYhuH-n7Q

ARCHBISHOP JONATHAN BLAKE - MY LIFE - PART TWO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STVJxukhA3o

I AM PROUD OF MY WRITING, FOR JESUS’S SAKE, THAT HAS HAD ME FOUND INNOCENT IN HEAVEN, BUT TWICE A CRIMINAL ON THE EARTH. THE FIRST IN 1990 WHEN I WROTE A BIBLICAL TEXT ON THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT IN PEACEFUL PROTEST ABOUT THE BOMBING OF YOUNG IRAQI RECRUITS DURING THE FIRST GULF WAR. THE SECOND, IN 2016 WHEN I WROTE ON MY BLOG, TO ALERT THE PUBLIC ABOUT A PAEDOPHILE, AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN FORCING THE AUTHORITIES TO STOP HIM HAVING ACCESS TO CHILDREN. THERE WAS ALMOST A THIRD! IN 1997, WHEN I WAS ARRESTED FOR NAILING MY PROPOSALS FOR REFORM OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND ON THE DOOR OF CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL. WORDS ARE POWERFUL MESSAGES THAT CHALLENGE  CORRUPTION, CONFRONT THE WICKED AND CREATE A BETTER WORLD. JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD AND HIS FOLLOWERS ARE CALLED  TO COMMUNICATE HIS WORDS,  IRRESPECTIVE OF THE COST.

http://bishopjonathanblake.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/press-release-concerning-met-police.html

"You brave, courageous and wonderful man. To stand up for the truth in the face of suppression and oppression is truly an act of a pure heart."