All Together Now!

What a good time was had by all, with the possible exception of the neighbours! 9 people all talking and laughing can be a bit noisy!

It was a flying visit but it was lovely to be together with the ones we love before we embark on our adventure.

Absent from the picture are Lucinda - the photographer on this occasion, and Debbie who unfortunately had to work.

So, 24 hours but we packed in such a lot. The stories that are always told and re-told when we are together - and are always funny. Catching up on each other's lives. Eating and drinking. More eating and drinking. I must confess to a moment of concern when I overheard a conversation in the lounge as I popped the 2 "Jamie Oliver" Lasagnes which were the size of a small continent, into the oven. Chris and Harry were saying how they detested anchovies. "Bleughhhh!" was Chris's comment! I glanced quickly at the small brown blobs in the white sauce - 5 chopped anchovies - and decided to risk it! They yummed it up! I only confessed after the sweet courses had been scoffed and everyone was groaningly full. It is at this point in the proceedings that Christine always vows she is never going to eat again! Good job no-one ever believes her!

It seems strange today - our 14th Wedding Anniversary - to think that they actually did visit. But they did, it was wonderful and I have A LOT of photographic evidence! Keep tuning in to see more!

Watch this Space!

Well, I wonder what incriminating photos we have to share on our blog after 24 hours with Chris, Phil, Jack, Harry, Lucinda, and a few hours today with Pam and Pete?
Auntie Chris and Phil are at present jamming their way down the M1 with Jack at the wheel and I bet they will keep watching the blog to see just which photos make the screen!!

As Harry and Lucinda are still wth us I will be brief for now! Just want to leave Chris with a message as she anticipates the next blog......................................................................



You're it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He really is Alive!

God is amazing. There, I've blogged it and no doubt any non Christian readers will be a bit uncomfortable with such a statement but it has to be said...and read!

I mean, why else would we be travelling half way round the world if it wasn't because God has called us to?

There seems to be some doubt, even amongst Christians, that God does speak today. Well, I can categorically say He does and if you really want to hear Him and are prepared to give Him the time and commitment He will speak to you, too.

How does He speak? Well He has spoken through dreams and visions and He has spoken to me really profoundly when I am reading His word. I know the cynic would say it's all coincidence but let me share my experience this morning.

I was praying and reading from Matthew and was feeling a bit like Peter after he had denied Jesus three times. I am full of concerns that I am not 'good enough' for the task God has called us to, and was expressing that, not very well as I prayed. I usually pray with my eyes closed, that seems to be the "right" thing to do, but this morning I opened my eyes and had a heart to heart, a good old chat with Him and told Him exactly how I was feeling.

Among other things I told Him how amazed I was that He would choose me to go to Cape Town. Amazed that 55 years ago, when I was in my mother's womb he had planned all the days of my life. This then made me think of Psalm 139, one of my favourite Psalms, (one that I want read at my funeral!)

He led me to read Isaiah 29 and I had previously highlighted verses 13 and 14, verses which speak of Christians who are only paying lip service to their faith and giving hollow worship.

At this I began to worry that He was now directing these words at me, but He led me to read on and immediately I was struck by verse 16:

"Shall what is formed say to him who formed it,

'He did not make me'?

Can the pot say of the potter,

'He knows nothing'?"

The note at the bottom of the page directed the reader to Psalm 139!

Reading again this Psalm the lines that stood out as if illuminated were verses 9 and 10:

"If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast."

I call that God's comfort to me in my time of struggle. I had spoken to Him about my fears and had talked to Him about Psalm 139 and he had heard and led me to read over a particular part.

Fanciful?

No, faith. This has happened on more occasions than I can count. God is faithful. He is real and He wants to speak to His people if only we will make time to listen.

As I said, for no other reason would we be going to "settle on the far side of the sea" if it were not for God leading us to.

Butter is Best!

What a brilliant Valentine's Day present! This is what Julia's adoring husband bought her in the amazing film "Julie and Julia" starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.

We watched the DVD last night and it is soooo my type of film. It's all about food, cooking and blogging!

Near the beginning of the film Julia and her husband are concerned to find Julia something to occupy her time when they were moved to Paris by the Diplomatic Service who employed him. After trying hat making and various other pastimes unsuccessfully, Julia's husband, the aforementioned mortar and pestle purchaser, said: "What do you like to do?" and after only a moment's hesitation she replied:

"I like to eat!"

That was the line of the film for me!

The joy of cooking and discovering new ways with food has always been my passion; I love cooking for people who love to eat. One of my favourite dinner guests is Paul. When he finishes and pronounces "Gorgeous!" I am a very happy cook. Duncan, my ever present dinner guest always enjoys anything I cook for him. Even our scrambled eggs this morning were cause of much comment and appreciation.

But when you're discovering and being innovative in the kitchen you have to do a lot of sampling and hence the increase in body weight.

That sounds like an excuse I know, but I think it's a pity that for all of my life I have been concerned about my size. I have let the scales rule my life far too much. Emphasis on the fact that I have allowed this to be.

The truth is, as was stated in the film, BUTTER IS LOVELY. It tastes great. None of the substitutes are a patch on the true taste of butter - on your bread, soaking into your warm toast or as the base ingredient in your cooking. Butter does it. And, according to an informative e mail from my friend Alison, the basic structure of margarine is only one step away from plastic! Put a tub of marg in your garage and leave it - it won't go mouldy; plastic doesn't mold. And surely the low fat versions of this are the same but with more water. Watery plastic! Yum!!

Well, I can't eulogise all day about butter but I can start to live up to what I wrote to my sister yesterday - I'm beginning to believe that the people who really love me and care about me are not concerned that I get below a size 16; they love me for who I am. Maybe if I started to live like I believe that, and size becomes less of a dominant issue in my life, I will lose the weight anyway.

Within the credits on the back of the DVD box is a phrase worth remembering :"With the right combination of passion and fearlessness, anything is possible". Amen to that.

Easter Greetings

Well, Happy Easter to all our readers. Our prayer is that the reality of the risen Christ will be your reality this year.

I wonder how things will be in church tomorrow? The year before last Duncan excelled himself by throwing chocolate Easter eggs to the congregation and smacking one lady right on the nose! She was new to the church. We didn't really see her again!

I suppose that will be a memorable Easter for all who were present, particularly the one with concussion!

Home Sweet Home!

I'm having one of those days. The day that says, actually I don't want to go to Cape Town. We have been doing lots of little housey jobs - painting the chimney breast where David plastered up the fire place, weeding and allowing the daffodils that our lovely neighbour planted in our little patch of "garden" on top of the wall, to be seen and flourish. The washing is out drying in the sunshine and, well, basically, I love my home. My kitchen is so nice I just had to make an apple crumble! It's good to be here.

I know that we will be happy in Cape Town. God has called us there so we will. I am not getting down, just a little wistful!

This is a lovely home and we're really pleased Janet will be here to enjoy it in our absence!

Good Friday

Thank you, Jesus.