Life in the Slow Lane!

Just been for a walk along the railway; (Yes, three trains passed us and yes, Duncan waved to them all! Mind you he got a toot from the last one!). Then we came back along the canal and watched a couple of narrow boats negotiating the locks. Fascinating.

There is no way you can rush when you're travelling on the canal.

Oh for the bygone days when traffic travelled slowly! Mind you, we'd be taking 3 months to get to Cape Town then.

There was something very calming about watching the process: the walk to the lock, tying up the boat, watching it drift to the middle of the canal, bringing it back. Watching the level of water fall and the boat slowly nudging its way in. The gates closing and then the reverse repeated at the other end. What an incredible feat of engineering canal locks are.

So back home and more chilled now.

Better get the tea on!

P.S. That's not us in the photo! I googled it!

Busy! Busy! Busy!

Duncan used the expression the other day -

"The tarmac seems to be coming up to meet us very quickly now!" and I think it's a very good explanation of how I'm feeling today.

Like when you're on an aeroplane and the flight seems to be lasting for ever; the captain comes over the intercom and says that we'll be landing in about 30 minutes and again the descent seems to take for ever. Then suddenly and very quickly, seat belts are fastened and checked and "cabin crew to positions for landing" and the tarmac is rushing up at us and we're down, landed.

We seem to have been waiting for ages - eye op, glasses, flight booking...and now the days are speeding away and the tarmac will, indeed soon be rushing up at us and we'll be there, landed, in Cape Town!

But there is still so much to do!

Watching Joyce Meyer this morning helped. What is the point of worrying and stressing? Everything will get done. We will fly out and whether or not we have everything we need in our suitcases is not actually the most important thing in the world. Cape Town does have shops!

It's the period of goodbyes that is taking its toll. But again - initially it's for 3 months. We will be able to see our friends and family and leave them saying: "See you in July."

I suppose Chris and Phil should take that as a warning! "See you in August if we have the cash and the time for a holiday!"

I know everyone thinks "Oh Cape Town - holiday" and I also know that even though it's a beautiful, beautiful place, I don't think we will come back having felt we've had a 3 month holiday! God is calling us for more than that.

I feel better now I've had this little chat with myself! Hope it hasn't been too boring for you.

I do love blogging!

All Seeing Duncan

Duncan is a very happy boy tonight as we collected his specs today and he can see to read properly again without having the text an inch from his nose! It's amazing that the left lens is now a fraction of the thickness that it was pre-op. It used to look like the bottom of a jam jar and it's now thinner than the other one.

The wonders of modern science!

Hard to say goodbye!

I know, Lucinda, you weren't fond of this picture, but I think it's lovely!

It was only on the point of leaving today to go and record the songs that I realised I wouldn't be seeing Harry (or Lucinda) again until our return in July! It was very hard to say goodbye!

I know the reality is that we may not have seen them in the three months but it was still hard to know that we definitely can't see them until the end of July!

Harry will be fine and will continue to do well I'm sure. Love you very much! XX

New glasses awaiting collection!

So that's another thing ticked off the list. We got in tonight to an answer phone message telling us Duncan's new glasses are ready for collection! Rather a relief in more ways that one. Duncan will be so pleased to be "normally sighted" again.

Had a very good afternoon with a lovely musician called Dave. Ruth, Lucy and I recorded the 14 "given songs" and now have them on CD. It is absolutely amazing that God should give us such wonderful worship songs. They are a record of how He has worked in and through our lives during the last two and a half years.

Thank you for your comments on the blog and please keep them coming.

These are the days of the final goodbyes for 3 months.and it can be difficult at times!

Welcome home Janet - if you are reading! Hope your journey from Australia was good and that you settle back into the UK quickly. I know your friends have missed you and will love having you back again!

My Lovely Niece

Here's Jack, aka Jacqueline Louise Hooper to give her her full title! (Which she will no doubt not be thanking me for!)

I know that my family may not be of the utmost interest to all my followers but they are of paramount interest to me!

Jack is a lovely girl (young lady!) as you can see in her smile. She is a real blessing to all she knows and who know her.

Thanks Jack for taking the time (and losing the pay) to come up to see us! And for driving the Oldies back home. Did they both bop it away down the M1? Hope they weren't too embarrassing!!

PS Tell your Mum - She's IT!

Ah, That's better!

Having previously published a photo that was not to my sister's liking I thought I'd better redeem myself! This is a much better shot and I think it shows how they really are - very happy together.

All you Christian readers could add them to your prayers please as they are in a very frustrating and challenging situation with a builder in Turkey who has not treated them fairly, to say the least. Please pray that all will be well with their home (s) and they will have peace while the building is completed. Thanks!