Sunday, December 24, 2006

merry CHRISTmas and happy new year

Hi All.

I haven't been on the computer that much since I have been on holidays but I did just want to say Merry CHRISTmas and a Happy New Year to you all.

I hope you have a fab time celebrating with families and friends the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I look forward to seeing some of you when I get back but until then, Enjoy.

I will be sure to post some pictures up very soon (I haven't taken many so far, I need to start getting the camera out more!)

Friday, December 22, 2006

the story so far....

Well finally here it is, a bit of an update and news on life in England.

We took off from Sydney on Friday morning, we flew on Korean airlines (please don't fly with them, you don't even get your own little video screen - on a 23 hour flight - YOU NEED ONE!). We didn't get to see a lot of Seoul as we arrived in time for dinner and then left just after breakfast. The only good thing about Korean airlines is that they put us up at the Hyatt, they fed us lovely grub in the evening and a great brekkie - Yum! We arrived Saturday night very tired indeed and VERY cold - it is absolutely freezing here, we stayed in Wimbledon at our lovely friend's house - Jen and Matt's until Tuesday. I got to catch up with friends, have coffee with Jen, go to my old church and see some old work colleagues - it was fun and I really enjoyed it. We head back to London for another four days at the beginning of Jan.










Now we are in Worcester at my Mum's house, the jet lag has hit us at various times but the last couple of days we have been pretty tired, I think we are now starting to feel a bit more human again ;) I have seen the cheeky chicas a few times - they are growing up so fast, still cheeky but very cute.

We put the Christmas tree up yesterday, my Mum was waiting for us to get back to put up the tree - it was fun to do... Tonight we are off to a castle for a slap up dinner - dinner jackets and dresses are the attire. Thank goodness my Mum has a frock for me to wear as I forgot mine!!! It is too cold to wear a dress but I might look a bit out of place in a pair of jeans and a jumper, although that is what I would prefer to wear.
Today I got to see my Nan, Gan-Gan (yes this is what I call my grandad, my aunt and my little cousin - I got to show them the wedding photo's which was great. Anyhoo, here is just a little about our trip so far - we are just planning to relax over the next few days before Christmas..

It is starting to feel Christmasy now which is very exciting. I am having fun - I did have tears in London as I do miss it here - I thought the tears would come at the end but they started early. This being so, I still know God is in control and he knows what is best for me, I pray I might want to be where he can best use me :)
I must away, cinderella has to go to a castle - how very fancy...

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Hello from London

Just thought I would take a few minutes to say - I am here safe and sound in London. We arrived Saturday evening and have many stories to tell (which I will tomorrow when I arrive at my folks).

Anyhoo, all is well here in London town, we get a train tonight to my Mum's place and from there I should be able to sit down to tell all about our night in Seoul and our lovely few days in London.

It is a mixture of excited and sad to be back, I miss home terribly and miss my friends here - London is fun. The tube is like herding sheep around, packed and squashed - needless to say I don't miss that! But it is the busiest time of year to be here so I guess that explains it.

Anyhoo, we are off into Wimbledon now to shop and have a pub lunch - I will write more soon and post pictures soon.

Adios for now :)

Thursday, December 14, 2006

one more sleep.......

..until we leave.

The next time I post I will be in England - I can hardly believe it. Keep checking for the adventures of Nixter in England...

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

did you know?

  • It is impossible to lick your elbow.
  • A crocodile can't stick its tongue out.
  • A shrimp's heart is in its head.
  • In a study of 200,000 ostriches over a period of 80 years, no one reported a single case where an ostrich buried its head in the sand.
  • It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.
  • A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.
  • More than 50% of the people in the world have never made or received a telephone call.
  • The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language.
  • If you sneeze too hard, you can fracture a rib. If you try to suppress a sneeze, you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die. If you keep your eyes open by force, they can pop out.
  • Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over a million descendants.
  • Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.
  • If the USA government has no knowledge of aliens, then why does Title 14, Section 1211 of the Code of Federal Regulations, implemented on July 16, 1969, make it illegal for U.S. citizens to have any contact with extraterrestrials or their vehicles?
  • In every episode of Seinfeld there is a Superman somewhere.
  • Horses can't vomit.
  • A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
  • 23% of all photocopier faults worldwide are caused by people sitting on them and photocopying their butts.
  • Most lipstick contains fish scales.
  • Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different.
  • Over 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow.

3 more sleeps.....

...until we leave to go to England. I am so excited and can't believe that it is almost here, I don't think it will really feel like we are going away until we are packed and on our way to the airport!

As far as this week looks like:

Tonight: drinks with D after work, home to pack and organise ourselves.

Wednesday: work and a Christmas work lunch with colleagues, go home and more organising of ourselves before we fly. Packing might be a good idea too.

Thursday: last day of work (woo hoot), lunch with AC and then hopefully I will get an 'early mark' so I can go finish packing - or start packing if I haven't already. I also need to go to the Mall to pick up a few things.

Friday: at stupid o'clock go to the airport.

The end! - the rest is holidays.....and I can't wait!

another one

See if you can guess this one too - nobody has figured out the one below either.

(8)

Can you guess this one?

Monday, December 11, 2006

see if you can get this

Clue: h,i,j,k,l,m,n,o

5 letters?

Can you guess what it is?

bbq'd out


This weekend was busy but fab. Saturday started with going to the Carn-ee-val-ee (that's how you say it here and it's weird!), it's just plain old carn-e-val* where I am from.. Anyhoo, we got there early and everyone was getting ready to start the day. It was so much fun, face painting, art exhibition, jumping castle, cookie making (you go Ruth), BBQ (number one) sausage sizzle and a maze. We had so much fun, I even jumped on the jumping castle with WH when no kids were around. Apparently after we went it really took off (hope that isn't because we left :( ) All in all a good day was had, many visitors, scripture kids and Adventure Club kids came - praise God that we have many talented and gifted people who helped plan and organise this and that many people came along to enjoy the day.

Next up SP and I had a friend's little girls 1st birthday (BBQ number two) that was really fun, she is such a cutie - we got her a little t-shirt with "Life of the party' written on it.

Then...... BBQ number three, was in the evening. A couple from church had invited numerous people over BYO meat to have dinner, this was fun. I got to catch up with people I haven't properly chatted to in a while and I found out one of my lovely scrummy friends is having a baby - Congrats to the McQ's..

Sunday arvo I went to hang out with the lovely Ruth and her boys, we had cookies, played music and danced, Ruth read the Christmas story and then they gave SP and I a little pressie - I love it, thanks so much!

Last night at church we had the most awesome night, a great sermon, church was packed out, new people were there and the music was amazing. We sang In Christ Alone - one of my absolute favourites and it rocked, everyone was singing with all their hearts and it sounded fab.

Guess what we doing tonight? - BBQ number four :(

*will post some pictures soon

10,000 hits

Today marks the day where I got 10,000 hits - thanks to everyone who reads my blog, thanks for visiting :)

Not that is really matters how many you get but it is exciting to know that people drop by and visit... Woo Hoot!

Friday, December 08, 2006

hair cut

I am having my hair cut later today at 5.15pm, I am a bit nervous because all of the places both here and in England that I have been to before (tried and tested) are fully booked and as I really need a cut I am trying a new place :(

I am a bit particular about my hair, there are not too many things that I am particular about but my hair is one of them. I mean EVERYONE sees your hair so if it gets messed up - EVERYONE knows,except people who read my blog and have never really 'seen' me. I am especially nervous today as I am thinking of having quite a bit cut off, my hair is currently half way down my back and I am thinking of going shoulder length - yikes... Anyhoo, pray for me (j/k) as I go to the butchers, I mean the hairdressers tonight. I might post a pic if I don't get butchered, if I do get butchered and you don't see me around for a while - don't be alarmed, I am going to England....












To find out more on how to survive a bad haircut clear here

goose bumps


"But between them and the foot of the sky there was something so white on the green grass that even with their eagle's eyes they could hardly look at it. They came on and saw that is was a Lamb. "Come and have breakfast," said the Lamb in it's sweet milky voice.
Then they noticed for the first time that there was a fire lit on the grass and fish roasting on it. They sat down and ate the fish, hungry now for the first time for many days. And it was the most delicious food they have ever tasted.
"Please, Lamb," said Lucy, "is this the way to Aslan's country?"
"Not for you," said the Lamb. "For you the door into Aslan's country is from your own world."
"What!" said Edmund. "Is there a way to Aslan's country from our world too?"
"There is a way into MY country from all the worlds," said the Lamb; but as he spoke his snowy white flushed into tawny gold and his size changed and he was Aslan himself, towering above them and scattering light from his mane.
"Oh, Aslan," said Lucy. "Will you tell us how to get into your country from our world?"
"I shall be telling you all the time," said Aslan. "But I will not tell you how long or short the way will be; only that it lies across a river. But do not fear that, for I am the great Bridge Builder. And now come; I will open the door in the sky and send you to your own world."

a little further down this happens:

"It isn't Narnia, you know," Lucy sobbed, "It's you. We shan't meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?"
"But you shall meet me, dear one," said Aslan.
"Are - are you there too, Sir?" said Edmund.
"I am," said Aslan. "But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name."

Quote from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C S Lewis

- I had goose bumps as I read this this morning on the bus. What a picture of Christ we see represented by Aslan - the Lamb and the Lion. I loved this part of the book and just had to share it. I especially loved where Aslan says their is a way to his country and he turns from a Lamb to a Lion, similar to the passage in Revelation where the Lion turns into a Lamb.
- Also when Aslan declares that he is the 'Bridge Builder', he tells them to "Do not fear that, for I am the great Bridge Builder". It immediately made me think of how Jesus is the true 'Bridge Builder', how he has come to build the bridge between God and man, that through him coming to this earth and dying so that we might live we can now have access to God. If we put our trust in Jesus there is no longer a gap between us and God, Jesus has made a way for us to be right with God.
- Finally, when asked if he, Aslan is also in 'their' world, he replies 'I am', this is mentioned in Exodus when God is talking to Moses. It is also throughout the gospel of John where Jesus uses several examples claiming, "I am the light of the world", "I am the way, the truth and the life", "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture", "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me", "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture" and "before Abraham was born, I am". There are many more examples of this, these are just a few.

Anyhoo, I just thought that C S Lewis gives a beautiful picture of Jesus in this part of the book. Jesus is all of those things - he is the way, the truth and the life, if we put our trust in him we will be saved and he will be with us.

Immanuel = God with us. Let's remember that this Christmas when we sing the beautiful Christmas hymn "Immanuel".

Thursday, December 07, 2006

saddening

What have we done? This is truly wrong and I am saddened that the ban on theurapeutic cloning has been lifted. Read more here

Any thoughts on what we, as Christians can do or be doing to make it perfectly clear this is not acceptable?

Monday, December 04, 2006

and for my next trick.....

Today in the office, I thought I would do the noble thing of cleaning out the office Japanese fighter fish. The lady who used to look after the fish has left and although I am not really into the fish I thought I would clean the fella out as his tank was really filthy. So I cleaned out Commets and then I tried to reach to put him back on the shelf and to get him some food. I stood up on a chair and put one of my feet on a glass table next to the chair so I could reach (big mistake, but it is a huge table and quite strong) then all of a sudden my foot/leg went straight through the glass. I was only wearing thongs (flip-flops for my UK readers) and I was amazed that I haven't done any damage whatsoever to my foot or leg. I did hurt my arm a little when I tried to save myself but nothing major. Thank the Lord...

So my brush with glass today did freak me out, I was a teeny bit shaken as I really thought I must have hurt myself, BUT I didn't and all is good. Commets has a clean tank, he has been fed and I have all limbs in tact, no cuts, blood or severed limbs. Hoorah!

personal drought and nixter's tours

Of late I seem to be having a bit of a drought in the 'what to blog about' department, I have been having this problem for about a month now and it feels weird. I normally have so much to say - as I am sure you all know but lately I just haven't had much to write about or I haven't been thinking - 'I must blog about that'. I guess this can be a good thing = not blogging so much but I actually enjoy writing interesting posts and discussing them with people, I just haven't had many interesting things to say or discuss, does that make me officially boring????

Anyhoo, that said and done I have a few things to say. As I said a few posts ago I had one of my really close friends who I lived with in London come out to Sydney for two days on her way back to NZ. It was so awesome to see her even if it was for a short time. On Tuesday night I rallied up a bunch of friends who all used to live in London to have dinner and then on Wednesday I drove my friend and her parents around on 'Nixter's tours'. Now my tour isn't a tour you want to go on if you want to see a lot of tourist stuff. My tour is particularly good if you like beaches, coffee, lunching, a glass of wine, beaches, coffee and just general good times. I mean my tourees were not really after a tour to see a lot of things as they have been to Sydney before so they were happy with just getting orientated and to see some of the beautiful beached up North.

Nixter's tours = relaxing, fun, extremely reasonable and full of good times, coffee and lunching!

11 more sleeps......


.....until we leave down-under to fly to good ole jolly England. I can't wait, even though I have been thinking about it for a long time it hasn't really hit me yet, that I am actually going home.

I am very excited to see friends and family, have a traditional Christmas which I grew up on and just relax and introduce my hubby to all of my friends and family he hasn't yet met.

It will be awesome.

* The picture is of my home town.