Malaysia - Dec 2006

Was honoured to be able to share in Jen and Phong's big day on 29 December 2006...

Spent some time with family and friends...

God Accepts All

God's grace is extended to the animal kingdom... see the pictures here!

Almost Blown Away

Was in Canary Wharf for a meeting on Thursday; a day when 70 - 80mph winds were raging across Britain. Thought I'd be economical and take the tube to Canary Wharf. Exited the train station and was stunned for a couple of seconds at the strength of the wind. I decided to brave it and cross the road to Smollenskys to ask for directions to the client's building. It seemed that the client was just up the road. Thinking it would be rather stupid if I were to get a cab to up the road, I thought it would be ok to walk there. Shouldn't be more than a 2 minute walk at most.

A strong gust of wind greeted when I walked out of Smollenskys. So much so that I had to grab onto the nearest lamp post. My cabin luggage flew about 15cms off the ground for about 10 seconds. It was almost funny. I say 'amost' because it was funny for about one minute, but not 10 minutes later when I found myself still hanging onto the lamp post. I was getting frustrated. The winds didn't stop long enough for me to let go, gain confidence and walk a few steps away. Oh, and I could see people being blown over as they tried to resume their journeys. A woman a few feet away from me was blown over and I think she was unconscious as security and paramedics tried to shelter her from the wind. I guess it would have been a comical scene to view from one of the many skyscrapers at the Wharf. Alas, I wasn't one of them.

The men waiting in Smollenskys found me quite entertaining, though - hanging onto the lamp post with my luggage and in fact, my body veering away in the direction of the wind. My faith in gentlemanly behaviour was slightly redeemed when a nice gentleman approached me not long after to ask if I was ok and then gave me his arm to hold onto as he walked me to my client. Isn't that nice? I was so thankful to him as otherwise, I'm not sure how much longer I could hold onto the lamp post for.

This would sound rather dramatic and funny if it's not for my arms still aching the next two days!

Spiritual MOT

A weekend to focus on Him. Look at whether we have grown in Him, and how much. A spiritual MOT. It's amazing to look back in the last year and realise that we have indeed grown with Him. Maybe not as much as I would have liked but His grace has always been here. We made spiritual resolutions for this year - so we can pray for each other but also as a homegroup, for accountability too...

We also took time out for a walk in Chatsworth - what gorgeous scenery! Also not forgetting the annual homegroup traditions of murder mystery and the Mafia game!

The majestic Chatsworth House

Dorothy (of Wizard of Oz), Robin Hood, Alice (of Alice in Wonderland) and Red Riding Hood.

Cinderella, Snow White and Goldilocks.

Snow White, The Wizard (of Wizard of Oz) and Dracula.

Derwent House transformed into a library - the crime scene.

Pictures of the murder mystery and idyllic Peak District can be found here. More photos will be uploaded later as I get them from the rest....

Is ignorance bliss?

Is it really true? Is it better not to know much at all? Because if you know too much, you can't ignore it, try as hard as you may. Good or bad, it influences your outlook on someone, some place, anything...

Superstitions, other people's opinions, the real faces of people... Changes your perspective... The person you thought was your friend turns out to have a hidden agenda... A superstitious tradition that makes you think twice about doing something that would have been normal 30 seconds before... Reading medical articles and ending up convinced that you have the 15-million-to-one disease...

Perhaps ignorance is bliss after all. No hurt. Just happy in one's own thoughts. No need to worry about others' opinions, comments, thoughts...

I will just crawl back under the shell and be content with ignorance...